Bill Emkow | MLive.comThe seven-leading candidates to be Michigan's next governor debated at the Grand Hotel at the Mackinac Policy Conference. The debate was most memorable for its personal attacks.

Mackinac Island turned from tranquil vacation town to political hotbed Thursday, as all seven of Michigan's Democratic and Republican candidates for governor shared the stage for a debate at the Detroit Regional Chamber's 2010 Mackinac Policy Conference.

For a more substantive look at some of the issues the candidates discussed please read Peter Luke's coverage of the debate. Otherwise, enjoy these quick-hit observations from a debate most memorable for an unfortunate series of personal attacks.

1. Almost everybody is against the DRIC and almost everybody took money from Moroun

Nearly every gubernatorial candidate, with the exception of Democratic U.S. Rep. Andy Dillon, said they were opposed to legislation that would allow Michigan to enter into a public-private partnership to build the Detroit River International Crossing -- despite a generous loan offer from Canada and widespread support outside of Lansing. Of course, Dillon already voted for the bill in the House, so his approval came as little surprise. More notable was the fact that nearly every candidate, with the exception of Republican Ann Arbor businessman Rick Snyder, disclosed they may have accepted campaign contributions from interests associated with the privately-owned Ambassador Bridge -- even Dillon. "If I did, it was more than a couple years ago," he said.

Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard, a Republican who remains one of the more outspoken critics of the project on the basis it would unfairly encourage public competition with Ambassador Bridge owner Manuel Moroun, made light of the fact he too might be punished for accepting a donation. "Yes, I received money from the bridge people, and I would also accept some from everybody in this room," he said to laughs.

2. Virg Bernero isn't angry at everyone, just Wall Street

Democrat Virg Bernero, who earned the title "America's angriest mayor" by defending auto workers on Fox News in the midst of federal bailout talks, isn't angry at everyone. In fact, he really loves grandparents. When asked whether unions are a major deterrent to job growth in Michigan, Bernero launched into a fiery reprise of his star-making turn: "I don't like the fact the unions have been maligned like they have here. This term 'legacy costs' bothers me when it's applied to grandpas and grandmas and uncles and aunts. That's who we're talking about. We're talking about my 85-year-old father who earned a modest pension from General Motors, and I don't think he owes anybody an apology for that. And many people in this room have benefited from auto workers who have earned good money and spent it in your stores. Because that's what is at risk here. If you attack the middle class, when Wall Street sends all the jobs overseas to China, Mexico and India, the middle class begins to collapse."

"It's an underhanded inference," Cox said of an image of Kilpatrick featured in Snyder's "One Tough Nerd" Super Bowl ad. "The fact is, you aren't straight enough to own up to your own underhanded advertising."

4. Rick Snyder doesn't want to fight, but he'll punch back

While Snyder himself has decried attack ads and voluntarily bowed out of recent GOP debates over frustration with heated rhetoric, he was ready to fight back when Cox pushed him up against the wall.

"Mr. Cox, I'm not going to stand here and be lectured by you about ethics, morality or family values," he said, the crowd buzzing over his apparent allusion to Cox's admitted marital indiscretion. "No one in this room should be lectured by you about ethics, morality or family values. I'm here to talk about reinventing Michigan, creating jobs and having a successful future."

"And that's from the only 'non-career politician' folks," Cox responded. "The reality is you want to be underhanded and spread rumors. The reality is, my wife is here, and you can go and talk to her if you're concerned about my ethics or morality."

5. Mike Bouchard gets the most laughs and gets back to the issues

"I'd like to talk about where we might take this state, if you don't mind," Bouchard said moments after Snyder and Cox traded barbs, his return to substance cutting the tension and provoking laughter. "I think it's important to note that Rome is burning, and we're standing around talking about things that aren't related to putting out the fire. I was in the Senate in 1991 when then-Governor Engler faced his toughest years. I was a leader when we cut a billion out of the budget without raising taxes, reformed education, reformed welfare and started fixing our roads. That's what has to be the focus. That's what needs to happen again. That's what we need to be talking about."

6. Pete Hoekstra, Andy Dillon look comfortable avoiding the fray

While Cox poked fights and Bernero shook his fists, the apparent front-runners in their respective parties appeared content to avoid the fray. Pete Hoekstra, in particular, appeared to avoid confrontation. When asked whether he'd changed his position by recently signing a no-tax pledge, Hoekstra simply responded with, "Yes, I have." He deftly jumped around the question of whether he was a flip-flopper, and even admitted he didn't know enough about the situation in Detroit rather than weigh in with on the controversial topic of a state-funded bailout. Dillon credited his peers with solid ideas, refused to launch personal attacks and even deferred to Mike Cox's authority as attorney general when asked about the Canadian practice of directional drilling under the Great Lakes.